Former State Sen. David Wysong named Advancement Board chair
Pictured from left are Mary Birch, former Sen. David Wysong and Cheryl Jernigan.
Kansas City, Kan. — Former Kansas Sen. David Wysong, of Mission Hills, Kan., is the new chair of the Advancement Board, an 85-member organization of business and community leaders formed in 2005 to promote the interests of the University of Kansas Medical Center, The University of Kansas Hospital and the University of Kansas Physicians.
Wysong was elected chair at today’s board meeting. He follows Cheryl Jernigan, who completed her second two-year term as chair. The new chair-elect is Mary Birch, a Kansas City-area civic leader and chair of the government relations practice area for Lathrop & Gage. Mary Hunkeler was re-elected for a second term as secretary.
Wysong said his goals include increasing members’ engagement in advancing the awareness of what the medical center and hospital are doing, and expanding the board from primarily a Kansas City metropolitan board to a statewide board and then to a national board.
The Advancement Board has worked to raise awareness of and support for The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s efforts to apply for designation from the National Cancer Institute. It also has advocated for the heart institute and neurosciences.
“One of our priorities will be to further engage legislators toward biosciences research on both sides of the state line,” said Wysong. “Biosciences not only improve human health, but they also make money, and the economics of it all makes sense — the more you fund in this arena, the better it is for everyone.”